Saturday, July 26, 2014

When: Thursday, July 31st through Sunday, August 3rd. The doors open to the public Thursday, Friday, & Saturday morning at 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:30 pm until 5:00 pm.

Where: The Spruce Pine Commons Shopping Center located at 12121 Hwy 226 S. The Festival is in the former Food Lion building.

Admission: Adults $3. Children under 10 get in free. Thursday is Senior Citizens Day and their admission is $1. Sunday is Mitchell County Day and admission for residents is $1.

The NC Mineral & Gem Festival will be at the Spruce Pine Commons Shopping Center in the former Food Lion building this year. We have been very fortunate to have the Pinebridge Center facility in our community to hold the Festival at for the past couple of decades. However, with it not being available this year, Food Lion was willing to step up and provide the space needed for the Festival to continue. In addition, individuals and businesses throughout the area have pitched in to make sure that this Festival continues to be an event that the community as a whole can take pride in.

We are looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the country to shop for beautiful jewelry, gemstones, minerals, beads, crystals, fossils, and more. The Festival will feature gem, jewelry, and mineral dealers from across the county showcasing their merchandise to fit every budget. Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring, a special stone for your own setting, a custom designed piece of jewelry, or a special crystal display for your home, the 2014 NC Mineral & Gem Festival is for you!

If you missed Garth Clark in Asheville last week, here's another chance to hear him. He'll be talking at Penland this Sunday, July 27. From the Penland blog:

Writer, historian, critic, and gallerist Garth Clark will speak at Penland School of Crafts on Sunday, July 27, at 8:15 PM. Clark is spending several weeks at Penland as this year’s Andrew Glasgow Writing Resident. He will speak about the recent explosion of ceramic activity in the fine arts and offer other thoughts about issues in contemporary craft. The lecture takes place in the Northlight building, and it is free and open to the public.

He is selling it for $50 ---that is less than the cost of the paint he used!!!

You may have to customize it for your booth /work but ....this is a deal!TOO LATE SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD TOO LATE SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD TOO LATE SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD TOO LATE SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD
Call him asap....xxxxxx

Friday, July 18, 2014

August 16 & 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ninth annual "Come to Leicester" studio tour will be held from 10am to 6pm on Saturday August 16 and Sunday August 17. This year the free self-guided tour will feature the work of twenty potters. Local and invited potters will open their studios located, throughout scenic Leicester, North Carolina, just outside Asheville for the two day event showcasing a variety of fine works in clay.

"This year's tour will focus on pottery, a true heritage craft in our state. Styles from wood-fired functional stoneware to whimsical figurative pieces will be represented in the works of prominate potters." says tour chairman Doc Welty.

Join us on this free, self-guided studio tour. Featuring the works of twenty local and invited ceramic artists on a studio tour of five locations throughout Leicester, North Carolina.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

I'm posting this for my incoming assistant, Sarah Holt. Jump on it now! Thanks from Gay.

Hi!

My name is Sarah Holt, and I will be moving to the Penland area at the end of August to assist with Gay Smith, and I am looking for work to support myself during that time. I have over 10 years of clay experience, and I can mix glazes, mix clay, process reclaim, clean your studio, help with chopping/stacking wood, scrape kiln shelves, put in a shift on a wood firing, do yard/garden work, clean/prep rental properties. I'm good with dogs, and can do dog/house sitting. I am also a good cook, so if you want someone to make the nibbles for a studio open house, I can do that too! I can provide local references, and I have my own transportation.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

I have about 50 to 75 ea. - 3" 3000 degree Used insulating firebrick to give away to anyone who will come and get them. I will also throw in some half hd hardbricks for kiln furniture. Know anyone who would be interested?

Friday, July 11, 2014

One spot available!!!!!!!This will be a week long workshop with John Dix, a fantastic potter that has lived and worked in Japan for 25 years. John held a very successful workshop here with me in 2010. During this workshop, we will fire both the Train and Anagama kilns. There will be 12 participants and each will bring pots to fire, we will load and fire the kilns and have demonstrations by John. He will share his experiences, firing techniques, and his approach to making really amazing pots. The workshop will take place from September 8 – 14, 2014.

The cost for this workshop will be $700 per participant and will include the workshop and several meals. We have secured nearby lodging that will be available for a nominal charge and camping on the property will be available at no charge. You can see John's work on his website, www.johndix.com.

I want to thank Silvia and Andy for having us and showing us what they are doing with the Crimson Laurel Gallery and telling us about themselves.

It was great to see all the potters. Here are some images.

I don't have anything planned for August 13th Clay Club or any other months so if you have something you want to do or a place that will host us - let me know . Otherwise I may try to do a Demopollosa at my studio?!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Free to a Good Home
I have fourteen silicon carbide kiln shelves -- 14 inch x 20 inch. They are well worn and quite warped from many firings in my salt kiln.They are FREE to anyone who will also take a hefty pile of angle iron (enough to build the frame for a kiln...!)

Call me at 828 467 0166 -- pick it all up on your way to Clay Club at Crimson Laurel Gallery.

I have just put a new Article on my Etsy site which is an ebook (PDF) discussing Aventurine Glazes and how to get them. It is entitled "All that Glitters is not Goldstone: Aventurine Glazes: Tiger's Eye, Goldstone and Various Glitter glazes"copyright 2014

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About Clay Club

Clay Club meets at artist studios and other locations throughout Western North Carolina, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. All potters and ceramic artists are welcome! Look for details about the meetings here on the blog or contact Amy Waller at amy@amywallerpottery.com for more info.